Political Geography Concepts Quiz

Political Geography Terms and Concepts

• State: A defined territory within a nation; for example, the United States.
• Geopolitics: Examines how economic geography influences state power; relevant during border conflicts.
• Regionalism: Involves loyalty towards specific regional interests; evident in national loyalty.
• Frontier: Represents undeveloped fields of study; exemplified by the American West as the last frontier.
• Gerrymander: The practice of manipulating voting district boundaries to favor one party; notable case in Illinois 4th district.
• Reapportionment: The redistribution of voters, particularly seen in the adjustment of congressional seats based on census data.

Legal and Territorial Concepts

• UNCLOS: The 1994 constitution for the seas, primarily focused on protecting ocean resources and setting nautical boundaries.
• Sovereignty: The ability of a government to operate without external interference; established for America post-Revolutionary War.
• Shatterbelt: An area marked by instability due to conflicting political and cultural ideologies; demonstrated by the Gaza Strip.
• Treaty Ports: Cities designated for foreign trade through treaties, with extraterritorial rights for foreigners; affected China's trading capabilities.
• Annexation: The formal acquisition of territory through conquest or occupation; seen in Texas post-Mexican conflict.

Historical and Colonial Dynamics

• Berlin Conference: Held from 1884-1885, this meeting determined rules for African colonization, resulting in conflict due to disregard for cultural boundaries.
• Colonialism: The process of establishing settlements and imposing a country’s principles on another region; exemplified by the British Empire.
• Imperialism: Involves controlling already occupied territories; notable in the establishment of Jamestown.
• Irredentism: A policy aimed at extending cultural and political influence to nationals in neighboring regions; practiced by ancient Romans.
• Satellite Nation: A formally independent nation significantly influenced or controlled by a larger country; Cuba during the Cold War serves as an example.

Governance and Political Systems

• Civil Divisions: Government sectors managing noncriminal matters, such as recreational services.
• Confederations: The formation of alliances or confederations; the Confederate States of America during the Civil War is a historical example.
• Democratization: The process of spreading representative government; exemplified by South Korea's political evolution.
• Devolution: The transfer of power from a central government to states; observed in Africa post-independence from European states.

Geopolitical Theories and Historical Events

• Forward Capital: A capital in contested territory that underscores a nation's commitment to maintain presence; Washington DC during the Civil War is a case in point.
• Domino Theory: Suggests that the fall of one nation to communism may lead to others falling similarly; relevant in the context of China and North Korea.
• Iron Curtain: A political barrier post-WWII that restricted Eastern Europeans from crossing borders; representative of the democratic versus communist divide.
• Manifest Destiny: A belief in the divinely ordained expansion of the United States; played a key role in Westward Expansion.

International Organizations

• United Nations: A global organization aimed at fostering international cooperation and addressing global issues.